| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that the characters in this book talk about sex -- a lot. The main characters navigate through high school's sexually charged atmosphere, making and questioning their choices about sexual intercourse. There are some scenes of heavy petting and a girl describes losing her virginity. And despite the book's focus, it's not raunchy.
Debbie, Mandy, Kai and Eva all find themselves in an odd situation. The prestigious Treemont scholarship is the answer to each girl's prayers for college. There's one sticking point: the person who wins the scholarship must be pure of mind and body. Yikes! Now virginity is on everyone's mind. Who is and who isn't a virgin?
This is a fun little book following the choices and consequences of sexuality among high school girls. Author Kate Brian steers away from the raunchy while keeping the fun and realistic high school banter in place. Brian does a great job examining four different girls in four different situations as they all grapple with what it means to be "pure." Perhaps most realistic of all is the situation Debbie Patel finds herself in. Her flirty behavior has people believing she's done more than she has and it doesn't bother her until dreamboat Rylie and her teachers assume the worst.
Parents may hesitate at the sexual discussions and situations, however Brian really nails what girls experience. While the book can get trite at times, characters are thoughtful and through self-reflection find the best solutions for themselves, which is what all parents hope for their daughters.
Families can talk about who says what about sex. What do friends say? Society? The media? How is sex portrayed on TV and in movies? Does this portrayal mirror what is going on in school? Is there pressure at school for girls and guys to behave a certain way sexually?
| Author: | Kate Brian |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Simon Pulse |
| Publication date: | April 22, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 304 |
| Paperback price: | $8.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |